Bolton Wanderers 1-5 Chelsea
Posted: Sunday 2nd October 2011
Tags: Match Reports, Premier League, Chelsea, Dedryck Boyata
Bolton's nine year wait for a home goal against Chelsea came to an end but it was in vain as Andre Villas-Boas' side ran out 5-1 winners at the Reebok Stadium.
Wanderers had lost on each of the last eight meetings with the Blues on home turf, all without scoring. Indeed, the last time they found the Chelsea net at the Reebok was in November 2002, with Henrik Pedersen the goalscorer.
Dedryck Boyata ended that record a minute after the break, but by that time Owen Coyle's side were already four goals down thanks to braces from Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard.
Despite giving Wanderers a slim chance of hope with Boyata's goal, Lampard completed his hat-trick just before the hour to condemn Bolton to a club record sixth successive home league defeat.
Chelsea raced out of the blocks and could have been ahead inside the opening minute. Jose Bosingwa raced away from Paul Robinson down the right flank and his low cross was put behind for a corner by Dedryck Boyata, who almost turned the ball into his own net.
From the resulting corner, however, the visitors did go ahead, with a familiar face scoring the goal. Daniel Sturridge, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton, got away from Gretar Steinsson and headed Juan Mata's corner past the goalkeeper, Adam Bogdan.
Bolton pushed forward in their attempts for an equaliser, with David Ngog curling past the post and Martin Petrov hitting a free-kick into a Chelsea wall.
Despite their efforts going forward, Wanderers were vulnerable at the back and they found themselves two down after 15 minutes, with Sturridge again involved.
After exchanging passes with Ramires, Mata played the ball out wide to Sturridge, who checked before laying the ball off for Lampard to stroke past Bogdan.
With two goals already past him, it may have come as somewhat of a relief to Bogdan when he kept out further strikes from Lampard and Mata soon after. However, the ball was in his net again on 25 minutes, with the blame being placed firmly on his shoulders.
There appeared to be little danger as Sturridge had the ball on the right flank, but he cut inside Boyata and sent a shot goalwards, which somehow escaped the clutches of Bogdan and looped in to the roof of the net.
The Hungary international was at fault again two minutes later as the Blues made it 4-0 with just 27 minutes gone. This time, he failed to deal with a routine shot from David Luiz and Lampard reacted quickest to prod the loose ball home.
Kevin Davies had a shot deflected wide and Bogdan made a comfortable stop from Mata as the half-time whistle was greeted by jeers from the home support.
Trotters boss Owen Coyle made a change at the break, with Zat Knight replacing Steinsson in defence. As a result of the change, Boyata was moved to right-back and he became an unlikely goalscorer just 54 seconds after the restart.
Petrov's free-kick from the left flank caused havoc in the Chelsea box and the on-loan Manchester City defender managed to direct a header, unchallenged, past the stranded Petr Cech.
With Sturridge on a hat-trick, Didier Drogba attempted to tee up the former Wanderers man on 56 minutes, only to be denied by a superb sliding challenge from Knight.
From the resulting corner, Bogdan failed to deal with the ball and it fell to Ramires, who should have done better with his shot in front of the travelling support.
Drogba sent a shot flashing across goal moments later, before he turned provider on 59, squaring a ball for Lampard who took a touch before poking the ball low past Bogdan to complete his hat-trick.
Although the result was never in doubt, Bolton continued to press forward for a goal and they should have had one inside the final ten minutes.
Petrov was left in acres of space on the right flank and after managing to keep the ball in play, his low cross picked out Davies who saw a shot cleared off the line by Branislav Ivanovic.
Many of the Wanderers players and fans believed the ball had crossed the line, but it was not awarded by the officials and word quickly spread around the stadium that television replays proved the ball was over the line.
Sturridge dragged a shot wide in the latter stages and Chris Eagles hit the post with a superb strike from 25-yards, but no further goals were to arrive as Chelsea tasted victory at the Reebok for the ninth successive season.
The humiliating defeat leaves Bolton routed at the foot of the Premier League table. They return to action in a fortnight when they face local rivals Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.
Bolton Wanderers: Bogdan, Steinsson (Knight 46), Cahill, Boyata, Robinson, Petrov, Pratley, Reo-Coker, Gardner (Eagles 74), Ngog (Tuncay 74), K Davies
Subs Not Used: Lainton, Muamba, M Davies, Vela
Booked: Ngog
Goals: Boyata 46
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ivanovic 53), Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Mikel 56), Meireles, Lampard, Mata (Anelka 72), Drogba, Sturridge
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Romeu, Malouda, Lukaku
Booked: Luiz, Terry
Goals: Sturridge 2,25, Lampard 15,27,59
Referee: Peter Walton
Attendance: 24,657